Kenneth Riegel, who was raised in Womelsdorf and went on to international fame as an opera singer, was honored Saturday with a distinguished alumnus award from Conrad Weiser High School, where he graduated in 1956.

Riegel kept on singing for more than 60 years, rising from obscurity to international fame in the highest ranks of the opera world.

His Metropolitan Opera debut came in 1973 with the French opera, "Les Troyens." He has performed with the San Francisco Opera, the Rome Opera and numerous other opera companies and symphony orchestras.

At the Paris Opera, where he was a frequent guest soloist, Riegel was the first American tenor to portray the title roles in "Faust" and "Les Contes d'Hoffman."

Riegel, 71, retired and living in New Jersey, was honored as a distinguished alumnus of Conrad Weiser High on Saturday.

He comes to the Kitchen Table to talk of his Berks County roots, his career and what led to his success.

When did you become interested in singing?

KR: Early on, people said I had a good voice. I participated in music events in school, singing and playing tenor sax. I took voice lessons from Wellington Wolfe in Reading when I was in high school.

What inspired you most to want to sing?

KR: I went to see "The Mario Lanza Story" in the movies when I was in high school. Then and there, I knew I wanted to be like Mario Lanza. I wanted to sing in opera or on Broadway.

Did you study music formally?

KR: My teachers told me I should become a music teacher. I went to West Chester University, but I wasn't terribly happy there. I came home and studied under Fritz Kruger at the Wyomissing Institute of Art. He suggested I go to New York, and arranged for me to study with Amy Ellerman, who was the first woman to record opera with Edison. Amy got me a place to live and many singing jobs.

You sang with the Army Chorus?

KR: Yes. I was going to be drafted. George Shirley, who sang with the Army Chorus, was at the Metropolitan Opera. He suggested I audition for the Army Chorus. I did, and spent three years with the chorus.

What was your big break?

KR: It was in "Les Troyens" ("The Trojans"), Hector Berlioz's opera based on Virgil's epic poem, at the Metropolitan Opera in 1973. It was a very long opera, and I had a very special scene as Iopas, the Tyrian poet. I was scared to death. You either make it or break it in your debut. Thankfully, The Associated Press said "time stood still" when I sang.

Do you come from a musical family?

KR: My father, Robert Lee Riegel, had a good baritone and sang country and western songs. As far as singing in opera, I don't know where I came from.

What advice would you have for youngsters who want to sing?

KR: First, you have to have that good voice. And, in classical music, you need to be a very good musician. My advice would be to study, study, study and never give up. There were many times I didn't get roles. You have to keep forging ahead. That's what I did. I never gave up. I guess you could say I have a streak of Pennsylvania Dutch stubbornness. You also have to believe in yourself, that you have something to give the audience. I always felt that I gave them something.

At the Kitchen Table, reporter Ron Devlin chats with current and former Berks County residents whose experiences and accomplishments reflect the region's character and culture. He can be contacted at 610-371-5030 or rdevlin@readingeagle.com.